Vaquita Habitat: Exclusively Northern Gulf of California

The vaquita (Phocoena sinus)—the world's most endangered marine mammal—lives only in the northern Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico.

Range Details

• Core area: ~2,235 km² near Rocas Consag
• Depth: 10-50m, shallow turbid waters
• Latitude: ~30°45'N to 31°30'N
• Proximity: Within 40km of coast

Critical Status

~10 individuals remain (2023 estimate). Primary threat: bycatch in illegal gillnets targeting totoaba (endangered fish whose swim bladders fetch high prices in Chinese markets).

Conservation

• Gillnet ban (permanent since 2017)
• Zero Tolerance Area (ZTA) enforcement
• Alternative gear development
• International pressure on totoaba trade

The vaquita's entire range is smaller than many cities—a micro-endemic species on the brink of extinction.